Traction lug and assembly



Sept. 21, 1937.

c. M. A'KlNS TRACTION LUG AND ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 25, 1954 [72 CLIFFORD M. AKINs Patented Sept. 21, 1937 Y UNITED STATES.

PATENT" OFFICE 2,093,404 memos we arm assnmsnv Cliilord M Akim, Minneapolis, Minn. Application August 25, 1934, Serial No. 741,410

6 Claims. (01. 152-14) This invention relates to a traction device for vehicles, and particularly to a traction lug or It is desirable to have some traction means which can be quickly placed on the tire and which will be durable and comparatively inexpensive.

It is an object of this invention to provide a 15 simple, inexpensive and eiilcient form of traction lug or mud lug. 7

It is a further object of the invention to provide a traction lug assembly which is easily placed on the tire and which will act efllciently as a traction device. d

It is still another object of the invention to provide a traction lug having an outer hooklike portion adapted to extend transversely across the tire tread and having an arm extending inwardlyofsaidtiretoapointdisposedsubstantially in the circumferential central plane of said tire.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a traction lug assembly comprising a plurality 30 of lugs such as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the same being circumferentially spaced about a tire and having flexible means extending between the inner ends of said arms in substantially the central circumferential plane of one of said lugs at the tread will move said arm and said movement will be transmitted to the other arms and lugs and cause the lugs to bind on the tire.

It is another object of the invention to provide a traction lug assembly comprising a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced about the tire, each having an outer hook-like portion extending transversely over the tire and having an arm extending inwardly, flexible means connecting said arms substantially at their inner ends and another flexible means connecting said arms between their inner ends and said hook-like portions.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a traction lug assembly comprising a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced about the tire, each having an outer portion extending over the tire and an arm extending inwardly and said tire whereby a rocking or other movement of.

a plurality of flexible means connecting said arms and spaced radially of said arms.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a tirejwith the invention applied thereto; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the tire and wheel showing the invention thereon; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 as indicated by thearrow.

Referring to the drawing, a wheel 10 is shown of the disk type, the same having a rim Illa having the tire-receivingflaflges lllb and a central-disk portion lllc. Said disk We is shown as having attaching bolt holes Hid circumferentially-spaced adjacent its center and as having a center opening ille. A tire II is shown as extending about the rim I011 within the flanges lllb, said tire being of the usual construction used on trucks. I I

In accordance with the present invention a plurality of tire lugs l2 are provided and these are disposed in circumferentially spaced relation about the tire. Each lug l2 comprises an outer portion which extends across and engages the tire tread. The surface of said portion engaging and extending across the tire is substantially flat as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Said outer portion has a terminal part extending inwardly along one side of the tire and in a general direction substantial- 1y at rightangles to said outer portion. Said lug also has an arm extending from the other end of said outer portion along the opposite side of the tire and inwardly, said arm extending to a point or plane substantially coincident with the central plane of the tire. While the lug i2 might be of various formations, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as having an inner rib or flange l2a which is adjacent the tire and as having a rib 12b extending outwardly substantially at right angles to and centrally of the flange I20. A plurality of spaced ribs I20 and lid' extend along the sides of central 7 rib lib at the outer portion of the lug, the outer ribs 12c being triangular in shape. and extending to the outer edge of rib i2b while central rib |2d is substantially rectangular in form as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The flange 12a connects with a flange Re which extends in a plane substantially I coincident with the central circumferential lane of the tire, the same being wider than flange In and having therein a pair of circumferentially spaced holes I2f disposed at equal distances from rib I2b. Chains I3 extend between the ends of said lug arms having their terminal links in the shown comprising a hook I4 having an eyelet connected to one of the links I30 of 'the chain and adapted to hook through one of the other links of the chain. A ring I5 is provided passing through the link adjacent link I3a and adapted to hook over the end of hook I4 to hold the same in engaged position.

The member I2 has a pair of lugs or ears I2g formed thereon between flange I2e and the outer portion thereof. The lugs I2g are disposed cen-.'

trally of the rib Ho and the rib I20. is curved to connect with the outer and inner sides of the same. Lugs I2g are provided with spaced apertures I2h equi-distant from the central rib I2b. It will be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that the ears of lugs I2g are disposed at the side of the tire and.- outside'of the zone defined by the planes in which the sides of the tire are disposed. Chains I6 are provided and have their end. links disposed respectively in the holes I2h and extend between lugs I2 as shown in Figure 1. 5 These chains are also disposed at one side of the tire as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1 chains I6 are of heavier construction and stronger than chains I3. One of the chains I6 is divided andprovided with a readily detachable coupling. While various types of couplings may be used, in,the embodiment of the invention illustrated, one link "a is secured to an eyelet Ila at the end of a hook lever I I. Lever I1 is adapted to pass through the adjacent link lib, said chain being open between links I60. and I6b., A ring I8 is provided adapted to engage over the end of lever H to hold the same in position when connecting the parts of chain I6. v

In operation when the lug/assembly is to be used the lugs I2 will be placed over thetire in spaced relation as shown in the drawing. The couplings formed by the hooks or levers II and I! will at this time be open or detached so that.

the chains having the sameltherein are divided. The outer portion of the lug I2 forms in eflect a hook and the lugs can readily be placed over the tire with the outer portion extending transversely of the tread and'then moved to the desired spaced relation. The ends of the divided chain I3 will now be brought together and the end of lever I4 willbe inserted through the end link of the adjacent chain section and the lever swung to the position shown in'Fig. 1. Due to the shape of lever ll this swinging exerts a pull or drawing action on the chain so as to tighten the same. When lever I4 is in 'the position shown in Figure 1 'the ring I5 is moved over the end thereof and said lever is then heldin position connecting the sections of chain I3. The ends of the divided chain I6 are now brought adjacent each other and lever I1 is engaged through link I61; and swung to the position shown in Figure 1. This swinging action exerts a pull or drawing efiect on the chain thus tightening the same. When lever I1 is in the position shown in Figure 1 the ring I8 is moved over'the end thereof and said lever is then held in closed position.

The lug assembly is now in operative position on the tire. I! one of the lugs I2 rocks about its surface which engages the tread of the tire, the arm of the lug I2 will be moved or swung and this will cause a pull on the chains I3 thus transmitting the movement of the arms of the other lugs. The lugs are thus caused to bind on the tire and press into the tread. The lugs thus'grip the tire and good traction is secured. The lugs there-- fore act together due to the connection with the flexible members or chains I3, and all tightly grip the tire. It will also be seen that due to the fact that the ends of the arms and the terminal flanges I2h are in the central circumferential plane of the tire, that any swinging movement of the arms ilc'has no tendency-to displace the'lugs on the tire. The pull or stress exerted on the arms In by the chains I3 when the lugs are gripping the tire all occurs in said central plane and there is no tendency to move the lugs transversely of the tire or to move them out of a position extending transversely oi the tire. Thelugs hence keep their proper position and place on the tire.

The chains it are provided to assure that there will be no slipping of the lugs I2 about the tire. In traveling in very soft and very slippery mud or material the tire'may be distorted by rocking of thelugs I2 to such an extent as to permit the lugs I2 to move about the tire and move together to one point. With the chains l3 provided, however, such a movement is positively prevented The chains I3 insure that the lugs will be properly spaced and these chains thuscooperate with the chains I3 to cause the lugs to bind or bite into the tire to grip the same. If the lugs cannot move about the tire any strain thereon by the traction cause them to rock about the tread to move inwardly thus grip w the tire more firmly. Thechains I3 and I3 act together and the greater portion of the stress is taken by chains I3 so that chains I3 can be of lighter construction or less strength than chains I3. As above stated the chains I3 being disposed in the central circumferential plane of the tire there is no tendency to displace the lugs transversely of the tire and the same are kept in proper position.- By having lug I2d of rectangular shape or having a rather long outer edge, a good resistance to side slip of the wheel is secured.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple. emcient and durable traction lug and traction lug assembly and one which functions to produce a very eifective traction. The parts-canbe made very rugged and durable and yet be made at amuchiowerpricethanatirechain. 'Ihedevice exerts a great traction eflect and is thus very eflicient for the purpose intended. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to bevery suocessml.

'It wi1l,,oi"course, be understood that vari-.

ous changes may be. madeinillthe form. details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departingfrom thefs'cope of applicant's invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying "out the objects above set forth in the parts and"combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed 1. Atraction lug assembly comprising va plurality of lugscircunifer'e'ntiallyspaced about the tire and each having anc-outer-portion extending transversely over the'tire and having an arm extending inwardly substantially radially, flexible means. equal in number to thenumber of said arms connecting all of said arms at their inner ends and other flexible means equal in number to the number of said arms connecting all of said arms between said inner ends and said outer portions.

2. A traction lug assembly comprising a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced about the tire each having an outer portion extending transversely over the tire and having an arm extending inwardly'substantially radially and a plurality of sets of flexible means extending from each arm to the adjacent arms, said sets being spaced radially of said arms and each comprising the same number of flexible means as there are arms.

3. A traction lug assembly for a vehicle wheel having a rim and a tire thereon comprising a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced about the tire, each having an outer portion extending over said tire and an arm extending inwardly from said outer portion to a point within a zone between the planes defined by the sides of said rim, flexible means equal in number to the number of said arms connecting the inner ends of said arms within said zone and other means equal in number to the number of said arms connecting said arms and spaced radially outwardly from said first mentioned means.

4. A traction lug assembly comprising a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced about the tire and each having an outer portion extending over the tire tread and an arm extending inwardly from said outer portion, said arm having circumferentially spaced apertures adjacent its innerend, flexible members having their ends connected respectively in said apertures and extending between said arms, said arms also having circumferentially spaced apertures at points some distance outwardly from said first mentioned apertures and flexible members having, their ends respectively secured in said last mentioned apertures and extending between said arms.

5. A traction lug assembly comprising a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced about the tire and each having an outer portion extending over the tire and an arm extending inwardly from said outer portion to a. point substantially in the central circumferential plane of said tire and having a flange disposed substantially in said plane having a pair of circumferentially spaced holes therethrough, chains extending between said arms having links secured in said holes respectively, one of said chains having a quickly detachable coupling therein, said arm also having lugs with clrcumferentially spaced holes therein between said flange and said outer portion, chains extending between said arms and having links secured in said last mentioned holes respectively, one of said last mentioned chains having a quickly detachable coupling therein.

6. A traction lug having an outer portion adapted to extend transversely across the tire tread and partially along one side thereof and having an arm extending inwardly from said outer portion to a point disposed substantially in the centrally circumferential plane of said tire, said arm having an apertured lug at its inner end adapted to receive connecting means and said arm having an apertured lug at the point disposed substantially at the side of the tire also adapted to receive connecting means.

CLIFFORD M. AKINS. 

